Great Plains Operator Theory Symposium, 2006

Transportation and Directions

Getting to Iowa City

FLYING: If you are flying to Iowa City, the best airport is the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Airport, also known as Eastern Iowa Airport (code CID). From there you can get a shuttle to Iowa City for about $25 taking about 30 minutes. There are at least two companies that provide this service: Airport Shuttle Service, ph: (319)337-2340 or (800)725-8460 and Airport Express, ph: (319)626-5466 or (800)383-2219. Airport Shuttle Service has an office in the airport building itself. If you want to use these services, please contact them directly.

BUS: There is a Greyhound bus terminal in Iowa City on Gilbert St. This is four to five blocks from the conference. Taxis are usually on hand at the bus terminal. Check with Greyhound for schedules and routes.

BY CAR: From the East: Assuming that you are coming via Chicago, take either the I-88 tollway or I-80 West until you pass the Mississipi river within the Quad Cities area (Moline and Rock Island on the Illinois side, and Davenport and Moline on the Iowa side). Continue until you connect with I-80 travelling West. Then continue on until you come to Iowa City. Take Dubuque St. exit 244 going South and you will come to the heart of Iowa City.

If you are driving to the Heartland Inn, you might want to take the 1st Ave. South exit 242. (See Once in Iowa City below.)

From the West: Assuming that you pass through Des Moines, connect to I-80 on the north edge of Des Moines and take I-80 East until you come to Iowa City (Dubuque St., exit 244). Take the Dubuque St. South exit 244 as above.

From the North: From Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls and Waterloo, take I-380 South, turning onto I-80 East and then the Dubuque St South exit 244.

From Madison, Wisconsin, connect to US-18 East/West Beltline Hwy/US-12 East. Merge onto I-39 South tollway towards Chicagovia exit 267A, merge onto I-88 West tollway via exit 97B towards the Quad Cities (Moline and Rock Island), merge onto I-80 West via exit 1B towards Des Moines. Continue on I-80 West across the Mississippi River until you reach the Iowa City Dubuque St South exit 244.

From Minneapolis/St Paul, connect to MN-65 South, which becomes I-35W South and eventually I-35 South. take US-18 exit 190 towards Mason City/Charles City and merge onto IA-27 South. Take US-218 South ramp towards Broadway St. and merge onto IA-57 East -- in about 9 miles this becomes US-218 South, and merges with IA-27 going to Cedar Rapids/Dubuque. US-218 (which becomes I-380 near Cedar Falls/Waterloo) continues South to I-80. Take exit 0A from US-218/I-350 towards Iowa City, and take the Dubuque St South exit 244.

From the South: From St. Louis, take I-55 North to Illinois, merge with I-155/IL-121 via exit 127 (towards Peoria), merge onto I-74 West (towards Peoria). Continue on to the Quad Cities and where I-74 becomes I-80 and continue West until the Iowa City Dubuque St South exit 244.

From Kansas City, take US-71 North towards I-70 West/I-29 North/I-35 North. Take I-35 North towards Des Moines, merging with I-80 East. Continue East to Iowa City, taking the Dubuque St South exit 244.

To guests in the Mayflower housing: There is a quick, easy and free bus (called Cambus) that you will be able to take to and from the lectures. The building where the lectures take place is called Van Allen Hall (VAN.) But it is actually only a 5 minute walk, and a nice one as well.

Still not sure? Try MapQuest or the University of Iowa's official driving directions.

Campus and downtown Iowa City maps.